The Chinese
Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe is a force that breaks
artistic boundaries and reaffirms individual potential regardless
of ability or circumstance. It is a truly hopeful expression
of perseverance and human integrity, showcasing breathtaking
talent and artistry amid the difficulties and challenges of
limited abilities.

With
its world-renowned presentation My Dream, performed
at the Egg this past weekend,the CDPPAT shares an
extravagant blend of dance, music, theater and comedy. With
performers who are blind, hard of hearing or otherwise physically
disabled, the ensemble embraces life’s hardships with a radical
sense of joy and celebration. With signed poetry interspersed
throughout the performance, there is a message of resilience
and perseverance born out of the trying experiences of the
individual performers.

In 2007,
the troup was awarded special distinction by the United Nations
as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, having reached diverse audiences
in over 60 countries from Australia to Zimbabwe. Whether performing
for dignitaries at Carnegie Hall or for young audiences at
local schools for the disabled, the CDPPAT leaves a trail
of inspiration wherever it travels.

During
its visit to the Capital Region, the troupe performed excerpts
from its show at Living Resources, a local organization that
provides life-enhancing services for disabled individuals.
The organization partnered with the Chinese Community Center
of the Capital District to host the ensemble, providing new
ground for collaboration.

The benefits
of partnership were clearly evident during the opening piece
of the performance, the ensemble’s trademark “Thousand-hand
Bodhisattva.” A single-file line of 20 hearing-impaired dancers
manipulate their arms, hands and fingers to depict the image
of the Buddha. The outstretched arms represent abundant kindness
and generosity, extending from what appears to be one single
body. However, there are two additional bodies placed at the
front corners of the stage, both dressed in simple white tunics
as opposed to the brilliant yellow beaded costumes of the
other dancers. It is with the presence of these additional
figures that one is reminded of the dancers’ inability to
hear the music. In place of sound, the dancers keep peripheral
view of their guides, who direct the dancers through rhythmic
arm gestures, cueing each movement.

Another
piece featured Tia Lihua, the ensemble’s hearing-impaired
art director and lead dancer. In a condensed dance drama,
“Butterfly Lovers,” Lihua and male dancer Zhao Ligang depict
a story of forbidden love in which the pair part, leaving
earth only to return as butterflies united in another form.
The company’s remaining dancers provide a magical backdrop
for the scene, with their hands covered in glow–in-the-dark
gloves, which protrude from a dark curtain with fingers fluttering
like a sea of fireflies in an open field.

Between
each piece, poetry is shared through sign language, with gestures
and movements that are equally expressive as the larger ensemble
pieces. One poem states, “Despite the impairment, our performances
are unrestrictive.” This was truly the case during a contemporary
piece titled “The Happy Life on the Farmland.”

Created
and performed by Huang Yangguang, a young man who lost both
arms in an electric-shock accident, the piece depicts the
natural cycles of growth based on Yangguang’s upbringing on
a rural farm in central China. Navigating the stage with humor
and ease, Yangguang shows his immense agility and coordination,
lifting water jugs with his collarbones and scooping water
with a bowl held between his toes.

A young
male vocalist, Yang Haitao, was featured throughout the performance,
evoking traditional Chinese melodies through a rich baritone
voice. A selection sung in English, titled “When a Child Is
Born in Paradise,” recalled the story of Haitao’s youth, having
been born visually impaired. Haitao remembers that as a young
child his mother would encourage him by saying, “My child,
sing as loud as you wish. Through your music you will not
fear darkness.”

It is
through this sense of personal vision that the members of
the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe are able
to transcend their current limitations and embrace the endless
possibilities of their own lives.